Apparatus for washing glass sheets



1949 c. B. WILLIAMS, JR, ET AL 2,490,289

APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASS SHEETS 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1947 1N VEN TORS @a/t zflfdaz/m/J a.

By and Mac 7% ATTORNEYS 1949 c. B. WILLIAMS, JR., ET m. 2,490,289

I APPARATUS FOR WASHING GLASS SHEETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 50, 1947 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 ArrAaA'rus non wAsmNG GLASS sin-2m- Carl B. Williams, in, and Walter B. Meyer, 'lo- Iedo,

Ohio, mignors to [Abbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, ,.'1oledo Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December :0, 1947, Serial No. 194,100

4 Claims.

, l r This invention relates to glass handling apparatus and in particular to apparatus for conveying glass sheets of eithercurved or flat form through a series of processing zones.

Glass sheets that are to be used in the manu- 5 facture of safety glass, i. e. glass that is laminated with one or more layers of plastic interposed between and bonded to glass sheets, must be very thoroughly cleaned before it is assembled with the plastic interlays. Any failure to completely n clean the glass surfaces that are to be bonded to the plastic interlay results in an inferior bond and in discoloration or spots that make the resulting laminated glass commercially unacceptable.

In the interests of economy in manufacture it is desirable to reduce the labor of washingthe glass to an absolute minimum and further to reduce the amount of handling of the glass both during and subsequent to the washing operation 20 to prevent further contamination of the cleansed surfaces.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved conveying apparatus that is suitable for carryin glass sheets through'a plurality of processing zones. 7 Another object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus that not only conveys the glass sheets through the processing zones but also accurately maintains a preselected orienta-- tion and spacing between the glass sheets and the processing equipment located in the various zones.

Another object of the invention is to provide means that may be readily adjusted to accommodate the apparatus to glass sheets of various lengths and curvatures. 1

These and more specific objects and advantages are apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accom- "0 panying drawings.

According to the invention, the glass sheets to be washed or otherwise processed are carried on an open generally rectangularframe that,- being suspended from an overhead conveying mechanism, is provided with means for preventing laterai swinging movement, and that has its side members curved to conform generally to the curvature of the glass sheets being processed.-

An adjustable cross member spanning the space 50 between the side members of the frame has depending portions for engaging the top portion of the glass sheet and is, furthermore, readily adjustable up and down along the length of the washing, rinsing and drying glass sheets.

, I 2' a be readily processed. The depending portions of the cross member may consist of curved fingers, the tips of which engage the sides of the glass sheet to position it on the frame. The bottom cross piece of the frame has upwardly-directed notched-members that receive the lower edge of the glass sheet and locate it with respect to the frame. A'suitable driving and conveying means carries the frames through a plurality of process ing zones in which the desired processing operations are performed.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a plan view,-at reduced scale, showing the general arrangement of the conveying mechanism and the processing stations through which the glass sheet being processed is successively carried.

Figure 2' is an elevation of the front side of the improved apparatus. 7

Figure 3 is, an elevation at enlarged scale show ing some of the processing stations and the con veying means extending therethrough.

' Figure 4 is a transverse section of the improved apparatus taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2. e

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of one end of the adjustable cross member of one of the open generally rectangular conveyor frames.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail showing one of the'members that is mounted at the lower end of the generally rectangular frame for receiving and supporting the lower edge of the glass sheet as it is carried in the frame.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary horizontal sectionof a portion of one of the drying chambers to illustrate the position of air jets that serve to remove drops of Water which may collect along and adhere to the bottom edge of a sheet of glass.

These specific figures and the accompanying description are intended merely to illustrate the invention but not to impose limitations on the claims.

Referring now to Figure 1, the improved con veying apparatus is included in a machine for The complete machine includes an elongated skeleton frame I which serves to support a conveyor sys--' tem that is driven by a chain 2 indicated by the dotted line in Figure 1. At each end of the frame I the chain 2 passes around a drive sprocket 3. The sprockets 3 are driven by a mo-:

- tor 4 that is connected through a gear reduction frame so that glass sheets of various lengths may as 5 leading to the sprocket I at the adjacent end of the 1mm r and that fromthesheetsbein is connected aeriesofdriveshaftsiextendlngalongthe oftheframe ltoasuitablegearboz'llocated at the far end of the frame I. The gear has a downwardly directed shaft, the lower end same shaft as theadiaeent one of the drive sprockets. I

The glass sheets to be washed are brought to a loading station which may include bays II of the frame I at which station they are placed on frames II (Figure 2) that are carried on the conveyor system and driven along by the/chain 2. From the loadin 'station in the bays II the glass sheets pass through a washing station or zone I2. In this zone the glass is sprayed with a solution of detergent in water that is supplied through a pipe It. A detergent capable of dissolving the foreign material on the glass surfaces h used in sufficient strength so that the glass is cleaned without the necessity of being scrubbed other than by the force of the-sprays. From the washing zone I2 the glass passes to a first rinsing zone I 4 where it is thoroughly rinsed by city water supplied through a pipe II. In this rinsing lone the water serves to rinse away all the traces of detergent that may have been carried over from the preceding washing mne. Following the firstrinsingzone I4is aseeondrinsingzone It to which distilled water is supplied through a :pipe II. The distilled water serves to rinse away all traces of the city water so that when the glass is subsequently dried by evaporation there will be no residue of foreign material left on the surface of the glass; From the second rinsing none I the glass sheets pass around the end of the conveyor system and start back along the back side of the frame I, where they pass through a series of drying chambers II supplied with hot dry air through ducts II. After the glass leaves the last of the drying zones II it is carried to an unloading station 20 where it is removed from the frames II. If desired, an inspection station may be interposed .between the last drying zone and the unloading station 2|.

Hgure2, a front elevation of the complete apparatus, shows the frame I as being open throughout its length except for the washing and rinsing zones which are enclosed by panels 2I to prevent loss of washing and rinsing solutions. Referring now to Figure 3. which shows the washing and rinsing zones at enlarged scale, the solution of detergent in water is supplied through the pipe I2 to a header or manifold 22 that supplies a-plurality of spray tubes 28. There are spray tubes located on each side of the path of travel of the frames II carrying the glass sheets so that both sides of the sheets are subjected to the cleaning fluids. Those of the spray pipes 22 that are located near the entrance to the washing zone I2 have their nozzles 24 directed in-the direction of the travel of the glass sheets so that little or none of the solution is splashed out of the entrance to the zone. The intermediate ones of the spray pipes 23 have their nozzles 24 directed straight against the glass surfaces to be washed. The spray pipes 22 located at the exit end of the washing zone I2 have their nozzles 24 directed contra to the direction of movement of the trams II to prevent spraying wash water hrough the exit of the washing zone I2 into the rinsing zone I4. The wash water that drains washed is collected in a tank 25 connected to a suitable drain or other is shown in Figure 3.

disposal system. For best results the spray tubes 23 carrying the wash water are spaced on ap-- from such entrance and exit to minimize any spraying of water into the adjacent zones.

e used rinse water from the glass sheets is collected into a tank 2! and from the tank is lead to a suitable drain.

After the glass leaves the first rinsing chamber I4 it enters the second rinsing chamber it where it is sprayed with distilled water fed through the pipe II, a header 30 and spray pipes II. The distilled water that drains from the glass sheets runs into a tank 22 which is connected to the drain. From the second rinsing zone I6 the glass sheets pass around the end of the frame I and start back along its back side through the drying mnes I8.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the frames II that carry the glass sheets through the various processing zones are curved to conform generally to the curvature of the glass sheets through valves 34.

beingprocessed. The spray tubes 23 are also curvedto the same curvature so that the nozzles 24 are brought into close and uniform spacing from the glass sheet being washed.

As may be seen in Figure 4 the spray tubes 23 are carried on the lower ends of pipes 33 each of which is supported on cross members of the frame I and is connected into the header 22 The valves 34 control the distribution of the wash water between the spray pipes 23 and may be adjusted to secure the proper pressure at the spray nozzles 24 for most efiicient washing.

After the glass has been washed and rinsed it is passed through the series of drying zones It one of which is shown in cross section in Figure 4. Each of the drying zones consists of shaped sheet metal housings 35 and 36 which at their upper ends are connected through downleads I! to the ducts is that supply the heated and dried air for evaporating the distilled water from the surfaces of the glass. The sheet metal housings 35 and 36 are shaped so that the air passing through them is delivered against the flat sides of the glass. Furthermore, the end walls of the housings 35 and 36 are fashioned to leave openings that just admit the frames II carrying the lass sheets.

The construction of the frames II is shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each of the frames II may be formed from a long rod that is bent to a U-shape to provide generally parallel side members 38 and a bottom cross piece 39. A second rod 40 is suitably attached in parallel. relationship to the bottom cross piece is to provide an open centered shelf or framework to receive lower glass supports 4|. Each of the glass supports H (see Figure 6) includes an upper member 42 and a lower member 42 that when bolted together clamp to the rods 39 and 40. The upper surface of the upper member 42 is-provided with a rubber block 44 the upper surface of which has'a notch 45 extending generally parallel to the rods 38 and 40. The

glass sheet in positiono'n the conveyor frame ll.

The diverging side walls of the notch 45 leave a relatively narrow-central section to'contact the face of the glass so that a minimum of glass area is covered and thus shielded from the washing and rinsing solutions.

The upper ends of the glass sheets are guided by curved fingers 46 (Figure that extend downward from an adjustably positioned cross piece d't. The cross piece 41 is clamped to the side rods as of the frame 8 i as, for example, by slipping the side rods 38 through holes in the end of the cross member 41 and providing wing headed bolts d8 for clamping the cross'piece 41 in adj usted position. The fingers 46 are preferably made of substantially c-shaped metallic rods '4! that throughout the greater portion of their lengths hand 4; The head portion of each of the frames it includes a pair of channel irons II and 52 that are held in spaced apart relation at their ends by side plates 53 so that the channel irons 5i and 52 form a horizontally disposed box-like structure. The side rods 38 of the frames I l have shoulders or flanges near their ends and are threaded so that they may be inserted through vertically aligned holes in the webs of the channelirons 5| and 52 and secured thereto as by tightening nuts 54 onto the threaded sections of the rods.

A pair of yokes 55 extend upwardly from the upper channel iron 52 of each of the frames II and at their upper ends are provided with inwardly-directed axles journalling rollers .55 that travel on the upper surface of the lower flange of an I-beam 57. The I-beam 51 is one of a series of similar beams that are mounted in end-to-end angle irons 51 that together form a track lug-parallel to the path of movement of the frames II. The rollers 59 and ti mounted on the ends of the arms 58, by engaging the vertical surfaces of the angle irons 80 and 62 forming the auxiliary tracks, provide sufficient restraint against lateral swinging motion of the frames ll so that they will accurately follow their intended path through the processing zones. The angle irons 5| and 62 forming the auxiliary tracks do not extend around the ends of the frame I but rather are interrupted near the ends and the ends-of the angle irons are fanned out to provide funnel-shaped entering guides to insure accurate en agement between the rollers 59 and 6t and the 'angle iron tracks as the frames I I are driven. a ongthe endless track.

As an additional safeguard in guiding the frames it through the various processing zones the frames are at their bottom ends provided with depending tabs or plates 63 that fit and travel between guide rails 64. Normally, there is no contact between plates 63 and the guide rails 64 because the frames H are accurately guided by the rollers 55 and 5| journalled on the ends of the arms 58. The ends of the guide rails 64 at the ends of the processing stations are fanned out to provide entering guides to insure accurate registration of theplates 83 with respect to the rails 54 asthe frames H follow along their path of movement.

This arrangement of guiding means for the frames-H provides suillcient control over the relation in the frame 5 to provide an endless track that passes above a plurality of processing aones. The yokes 55 are attached to links of the chain 2 which ser es to pull the frames along the endless track formed by the I-beams 51.. At the ends of the frame 8 the I-beams 51 are bent to substantially the same curvature as the periphery of the sprockets 3 so that the frames Il may follow around the ends of the frame I without interference with the sprockets 3 or straining the To provide the and 52 are provided. These arms 58 extend upwardly alongside the yokes andat their upper ends are provided with vertical axles on which are journalled rollers 59 adapted to run between a pair of angle irons 50 that together form a path of movement of the frames so that the spray tubes 23,121 and-3| may be located closely adjacent the frames and so that the partitions between the drying chambers |8 may have a minimum of open "area at their ends without danger of interference between the frames and the stat ionary parts ofthe processing equipment. The rigidity of the control over the path of movement is sumcient so that wide variations in the weight of the glasssheets bein handled or in the lengths of the sheets does not appreciably affect the path of movement followed by the frames A I. Therefore, the only adjustment that need be made in the apparatus when going from one length of glasssheets to another is merely adjusting the height of the cross members ti on the side rods 35 of the frames it. 'This adjustment-made by loosening the wing bolts 88, sliding the cross member 81 to its new location, and retightenlng the wing bolts-is so easily made that it is unnecessary to stop the conveyor when changing from one length of glass sheet to another. Rather, the operator merely goes along the front of the machine ahead of the loading station and sets the cross members 41 as the frames are driven toward the loading station.

As the glass sheets pass through the drying zones II the circulated air tends to drive water drops on the glass toward the bottom edge of the glass as well as evaporate the film of moisture from the surface of the glass. The water drops collecting along the bottom edge of the glass, which are commonly known as tall water, are removed by a pair of air nozzles (Figure 7) that are located near the bottom of one of the drying chambers l8 and that are directed toward the oncoming glass sheets so that the water is driven along the bottom edge of the glass sheet and ofl its lower rear corner.

The improved apparatus provides an eilicient glass handling arrangement for carrying the extendg 7 glassthroughapluralityofprocessingsonesand for accurately locating the glass as it passes through each of. the lonea. The apparatus is easily adjustable to-accommodate glass sheets of various lengths ,and, furthermore. exposes practically all of the area of the glass to the processin: operations performed in the various processing'sones so that all portions of eachsheet are completely processed.

Various modifications in the structure shown may be made in adapting the apparatus for specific installations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, we claim:

1. In an apparatus for carrying glass sheets during a processing operation, in combination, an open generally rectangular frame, an endless track passing over a plurality of processing zones. rollers on a head portion of the frame for suspending it from the track. means for moving the frame along the endless track, upwardly-directed notched members attached to a lower part of the frame for receiving the lower edge of a sheet of glass to be washed, and a cross member adjustably mounted on parallel sides of the frame. said cross member having portions that engage the upper portion of the glass sheet to hold it in posi tion in the frame.

2. In an apparatus for carrying glass sheets during a processing operation, in combination, an open generally rectangular frame. an endless track passing over a plurality of processing zones, rollers on a head portion of the frame for suspending it from the track, means for moving the frame along the endless track, upwardly-directed notched members attached to a lower part of the frame for receiving the lower edge of a sheet of glass to be washed, and a cross member adjustably mounted on parallel sides of the frame, said cross member having downwardly-directed curved fingers that partially encircle the top edge of the glass sheet and the tips of which engage the glass sheet to hold it inposition in the frame.

3. In an apparatus for carrying glass sheets during a processing operation, in combination, an open generally rectangular frame. means for carrying the frame in generally upright position through a plurality of processing zones, upwardlydirected notched members for receiving and supporting the lower edge of a glass sheet being processed, and a cross member adJustably mounted on the sides of the frame and having portions that engage the upper portion of the glass sheet,

4. In an apparatus for carrying glass sheets during a processing operation, in combination, an open generally rectangular frame, means for carrying the frame in generally upright position through a plurality of processing zones, upwardlydirected notched members for receiving and supporting the lower edge of a glass sheet being washed, a cross member adjustably mounted on side members of said frame and having means for engaging the upper part of the glass sheet, said frame having its side members curved to correspond generally to the curvature of the glass sheets being washed, whereby the cross member when adjusted for any of various lengths of glass sheets positions the glass sheet substantially in the plane of the side members.

CARL B. WILLIAMS. JR. WALTER H. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,102,667 Argabrite Dec. 21, 1937 2,161,388 Rosenthal June 6, 1939 2.187.498 Landahl Jan. 16, 1940 

